Anchoring device.



M. 1. MER TZ.

ANCHORING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-8' 19H.

1,4,975, J Patented Nov. 20,1917;

. 4 anaemic;

UNTT' MATT J. MER'IZ, or wnsr BEND, IOWA.

AnoHonING DEVICE.

Application filed August 8, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATT J. MERTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Bend, in the county of Palo Alto and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anchoring Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in anchoring devices and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with a check row wire and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the check row wire with which it co-acts is placed under proper tension.

It -is also an object of the invention to provide a noval and improved device of this general character whereby the device at its different applications to a check row wire places the wire under substantially the same tension.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of the several parts of my improved anchoring device wherein certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a View partly in top plan and partly in section of an anchoring device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation with portions broken away of my anchoring device as herein disclosed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the outer end portion of the frame as included in the present embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 4c is an elevational view, on a reduced scale, of the stake as herein employed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings S denotes a stake of predetermined dimensions and of any desired material and Specification of Letters Patent. P tent d 29, 191*;

Serial No. 185,192.

which has operatively engaged therewith the clip C. Pivotally engaged with the clip C is an elongated member 1 substantially flat and provided at a predetermined point inwardly of its outer or free end with an opening 2. l

. F denotes an elongated frame preferably rectangular and provided in its inn-er end with a slot 3 through which the member 1 is loosely directed so that the member 1 and the frame F are capable of relative longitudinal'movement. The opposite end portion of the frame F is provided with the upstanding spaced arms or prongs 4 between which a check row wire is adapted to be engaged in a manner which is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art to which my present invention pertains.

The outer end portion of the member 1 or that portion thereof within the frame F is provided with an enlarged head 5 and interposed between the head 5 and the inner end of the frame F is an expansible member 6 herein disclosed as a coil spring encircling the member 1.

Pivotally engaged as at 7 with the inner end of the frame F is a latch 8 adapted to seat within the opening 2 and said latch 8 is provided with an angular tail piece 9 overlying the inner end portion of the frame F, Interposed between the inner end of the frame F and the tail piece 9 is an eX- pansible member .10 herein disclosed as a conventional coil spring and which serves to constantly urge the latch 8 toward the member 1 so that when the member. 1 and the frame F have been so relatively moved as to properly position the opening 2 with respect to the latch 8, the latch 8 will automatically seat within the opening 2 and thereby hold the member 1 and the frame F against relative movement. lVhen it is desired to disengage the latch 8 from the member 1 it is only necessary to depress the tail piece 9 which may be done by hand or by foot. In applying my improved anchoring device the latch 8 is disengaged from the member 1 which will result in an expansion of the member 6. The check row wire after being properly engaged with the planter is secured to the fame F through the medium of the arms or prongs f. The penetrating end of the stake S is then rested upon the ground and laid in a direction toward the wire or the planter and is then pulled upwardly which results in taking up the slack in the check row wire intermediate the stake and the planter. The swinging movement of the stake S is continued until the member 1 and the frame F have been relatively moved against the tension of the expansible member 6 to cause the latch 8 to engage within the opening 2. The stake S is then driven into the ground. This operation results in the proper tension being imposed upon the check row wire. By this operation it will be at once self evident that the tension upon the check row wire will be the same each time it is-reset.

The upper end of the stake S is provided with the cross loop 11 to afford means to facilitate the requisite manipulation of the stake. To facilitate penetration of the stake within the ground I find it of advantage to employ the foot piece 12 slidably engaged with the stake S and the foot piece 12 is locked at a predetermined position upon the stake S through the medium of a set screw 14: or its equivalent. I also find it of advantage to provide a set screw 15 threaded through the clip G and co-acting with the stake S for holding the clip against movement longitudinally of the stake.

I also find it of advantage to provide the inner end portion of the member 1 with the upstanding lug l6 and with which the latch 8 engages to limit the inward relative movement between the member 1 and the frame F.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an anchoring de vice constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without materially departing from the principle and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be under- (Gopies of this patent may be obtained for stood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An anchoring device comprising a stake, an. elongated member operatively engaged therewith, a second member co-acting with the first named member and provided with engaging means, both of said members being mounted for relative longitudinal movement, an expansible member co-acting with the relatively movable members and placed under compression upon relative movement of the members in one direction, and a latch carried by one of the members and engaging the second member upon predetermined relative movement of the members.

2. An anchoring device comprising a stake, an elongated member operatively engaged therewith, a frame provided with an opening in an endthereof and through which the second named member is directed, the outer end portion of the first named member being enlarged, an expansible member co-acting with the enlarged portion of the first named member and the end of the frame through which the first named memher is directed, the opposite end portion of the frame being provided with engaging means, and co-acting means carried by the elongated member and the frame for locking the same against relative movement when said members have been relatively moved a predetermined extent against the action of the eXpansible member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MATT J. MERTZ.

Witnesses:

M. M. MILLER, ROY MCMAHON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

